Chapter 23 Oh, Mommy, you're so clumsy!

Eventually, Wen Xuxu was locked up again.
But not for long—just a few hours later, the ship arrived, and she was let out once more.

“Miss Wen, we’ve reached our destination. You’ll go down first. Today, you won’t be going to the Huo family. I’ve already arranged a place for you to stay—someone will come get you later.”

The man who opened the door was Lin Ziyang. After releasing her, he told her she wouldn’t be heading to the Huo residence today.

Not going to the Huo family? That was perfect!

She’d been stressing all morning about what she’d do if she actually had to face the old man. That man—who once doted on her like his own daughter—how would he react when he saw her now? Would he be furious? Heartbroken? Or worse?

Wen Xuxu exhaled deeply, relief flooding through her.

“Great! Let’s go, then!”

She was eager to see the other two treasures—she hadn’t seen them in days. Were they okay? Were they safe?

Lin Ziyang nodded, then led her off the boat.

Five years.
When Wen Xuxu finally stepped onto the land again, her heart twisted with emotion.

Five years. She hadn’t set foot here in half a decade. The skyline still looked familiar, but the towering skyscrapers rising from the ground, the bustling energy, the noise—everything felt alien, unrecognizable.

A City.
She was back.

“Still standing there? Get in the car,” a bodyguard standing nearby snapped, clearly losing patience.

Wen Xuxu blinked, coming back to herself, and walked toward the waiting vehicle.

“Where’s your little master? Why didn’t I see him come down?”

“You *dare* ask about him?” The guard shot back, voice sharp and cold. “You really don’t fear death, do you?”

Wen Xuxu shut her mouth instantly. She turned toward the window, staring out at the city passing by. She didn’t think about why she’d been delayed going to the Huo family. She didn’t notice that the damn bastard—the one she’d been avoiding—hadn’t even gotten off the boat.

Then she was taken away.

If she wasn’t going to the Huo family… could she slip out and see the other two treasures?

Her mind raced.

She was brought to a standalone apartment building—spacious, three bedrooms, two living rooms—but locked down tight. No windows open, no doors cracked. Just steel and surveillance.

Simple. They weren’t letting her escape.

That bastard.

Frustrated, Wen Xuxu chased after the guard as he turned to leave. “What about my phone? Give me my phone back—I need to make a call!”

“You want to *call* someone?” The guard sneered. “Who? Your fairy godmother? To come rescue you? Listen, Miss Wen—don’t even *think* about it. This entire building is wired with cameras. If anyone shows up, they’ll end up buried with you.”

Silence.

Wen Xuxu stood frozen in the doorway, eyes locked on the guard, her jaw clenched so tight she couldn’t speak.

Huo Sijue. You piece of trash.

In the end, she got nothing. Nothing at all. She was locked inside the apartment like a prisoner.

She thought about climbing out the window—maybe scaling down the side of the building. But just one glance at the 30-plus stories below sent her stomach lurching. Her legs gave out. She stumbled back, pale as a sheet.

She was terrified of heights.

So there was only one option left.

She’d have to pick the lock.